Companion Animal Information Sheets

Just like you, your cat is going to get sick occasionally and you'll likely come home
from your veterinarian with some medication
to administer. Learning how to do it right will
make the process easier both for you and
your cat. Always follow the ...

Just like you, your dog is going to get sick occasionally and you'll likely come home from the veterinarian's with some medication
to administer. Learning how to do it right will
make the process easier both for you and your dog. Always follow the ...

Arthritis is a gradual degenerative joint disease where the body’s joints become worn out, stiff and painful. It is a common condition seen particularly in aged dogs, but may affect dogs of all ages and breeds. It goes unnoticed at first as symptoms ...

Rhinoplasty and Soft Palate Resection in Dogs with Brachycephalic Obstructive Airway Syndrome (BOAS). What is BOAS?
Brachycephalic obstructive airway syndrome (BOAS) is a condition that is caused by structural problems in the
face and mouth/throat of...

Some Common Problem Behaviours: Barking: Barking is a completely normal behaviour and is the way dogs communicate. It cannot be stopped entirely and some dogs will bark more than others. Some of the reasons why dogs bark are: excitement, greeting, warn...

What is Dental Disease? Your pet needs to have good oral hygiene to keep a healthy set of teeth and gums throughout its life. Research shows that by 2 years of age 80% of dogs and 70% of cats have some form of dental disease. Oral health problems often...

Dental disease is a common problem in cats and dogs. The majority of cats and dogs will experience some form of dental disease during their lives, many before they reach 5 years of age. In some cases the dental disease may be mild and can be treated at...

Desexing or neutering your pet is a routine surgical procedure, performed with a high level of care at Murray Bridge Veterinary Clinic. For most pets this may be the on
ly surgical procedure they will have. There are many reasons for desexing pets, ...

Ear infections are a very common problem in dogs and cats. Any dog can get ear
infections but several breeds are more likely to develop a problem. These include dogs with long ears such as cocker spaniels or dogs with hairy ears like Miniature poodles...

Your pet has been sent home with an Elizabethan collar today. These collars are used to help animals recover safely from routine surgery and also to prevent them from harming themselves by licking, chewing, or scratching injured areas.

Much priority has been placed on Environmental Enrichment in recent years. This contributes to a better quality
of life for confined animals. Environmental Enrichment is providing stimulus and opportunities for activities in an
animal’s environment...

Protecting your pets from Fleas. Fleas can make life miserable for pets and their owners. They cause a vicious cycle of itching and scratching that may result in hair loss, irritation and flea allergy dermatitis in some pets...

What is GDV and why does it occur? GDV is where a dog’s stomach fills up with air and
then twists resulting in the air becoming trapped inside the stomach. As the stomach continues to fill the blood supply to the stomach becomes cut off causing the ...

Dogs and cats are generally considered geriatric after they reach the age of 7 years. This varies a bit depending on the breed and life expectancy of the pet. My dog/cat is 15 years old – they won’t survive an anaesthetic will they? There is some risk ...

Protecting your pets from Heartworm
Heartworm is a serious disease that is spread by mosquitoes. Your pet does not have to be in contact with other animals to
contract this disease. This worm has the potential to cause heart failure and death in dogs...

A new pet food should always be introduced gradually, even if your pet appears to like the new food. This will help reduce the chance of a stomach upset following a food change. Changes to diet affect different animals in different ways, so it is ...

Hip dysplasia is defined as a deformity of the coxofemoral (hip) joint that occurs during the growth period. Hip dysplasia is caused by a variety of factors including genetic, overweight in the young puppy
and over exercise, all of which contribute to...

Mouthing or biting is normal puppy behaviour, but is sometimes inappropriate and undesired. From birth to around six
weeks of age when you got your puppy, the litter mates play and mouth each other. When one puppy bites a litter mate too hard ...

Vaccination: Your kitten needs to be vaccinated against Feline Enteritis, Feline Rhinotracheitis & Feline Calicivirus. Kittens are due for their 1st vaccination at the age of 8 weeks & 2nd vaccination at 12 weeks. Feline ...

In nature, whether it be a cougar, a tiger or a lion cub, a big cat needs meat to survive. Your pet cat has the same need for the protein in meat to be strong and healthy. Hills Science Diet cat foods are made with chicken as the number one ingredient, ..

In the wild dogs are primarily carnivores (meat eaters). Wild dogs eat all parts of their kill - which includes muscle, bones and intestines. From the intestines and gut they obtained vegetable matter, important for the dogs diet. They also supplement ...

Pet insurance has become more accessible and popular in recent times. It can help you provide your pet with optimal care and lessen the financial concerns that may be associated with illness or injury to your pet. It may also mean you can proceed with ...

Pregnancy will last 63 days (with variations of 58 – 72 days). Ultrasound from day 28 after mating, X-ray from day 42 after mating – this is a better technique for estimating how many puppies can be expected. Manual palpation may be possible in some dogs.

The law states that: Medication that is classed as S4 “Prescription animal remedy”
or “Prescription only medicine” Require professional diagnosis and monitoring and may only be prescribed by a registered vet.

What will my puppy gain from Puppy Pre-School? A new puppy between the ages of 6 - 14 weeks, are in their socilisation period. During this period puppies can very quickly acquire the social skills they will need later in life, and is the ideal time to ...

As one human year is approximately 7 dog or cat years, regular checkups are important in detecting the early signs of problems in our senior pets. We recommend assessments every 6 - 12 months for senior pets, including blood tests so changes can be ...

At a young age puppies have little bladders and therefore need to be taken to the toilet frequently. I.e. after every nap, drink, feed. Most puppies do not have full bladder control until 5 - 6 months of age. When going to the toilet puppies have a...

Animals eat for energy. Their diet must contain a balance of proteins, fats, carbohydrates, vitamins and minerals
to satisfy basic nutritional needs. Some dogs and cats require more energy than others, depending on a variety of factors, including age...